For decades, Fred Burton was a key figure in international counterterrorism and domestic spy craft. As a member of the State Department's Diplomatic Security Service in the mid 1980s, he was on the front lines of America's first campaign against terror. Now, in this hard-hitting memoir, Burton emerges from the shadows to reveal who he is, what he has accomplished, and the threats that lurk unseen except by an experienced, world-wise few. Told in a no-holds-barred, gripping, nuanced style, this behind-the scenes account of one counterterrorism agent's life and career is a riveting listen.

Chasing Shadows: A Special Agent's Lifelong Hunt to Bring a Cold War Assassin to Justice

In 1973, a gunman fired five shots into Colonel Joe Alon, a kind, unassuming Israeli Air Force pilot. As it turned out, Alon wasn't just a pilot and family man - he was a high-ranking Israeli military official and hero of the Israeli Air Force. The assassin was never found and the case was closed. As a counterterrorism special agent, Fred Burton reopened the case and pursued the killer.

The Great War of Our Time: The CIA's Fight Against Terrorism - From al Qa'ida to ISIS

The Great War of Our Time offers an unprecedented assessment of the CIA while at the forefront of our nation's war against al-Qa'ida and during the most remarkable period in the history of the agency. Called the "Bob Gates of his generation", Michael Morell is a top CIA officer who saw it all - the only person with President Bush on 9/11/01 and with President Obama on 5/1/11, when Usama Bin Laden was brought to justice.

Bruce says:"A non-political view and insight on the war on terrorism."

See No Evil

In his explosive New York Times best seller, top CIA operative Robert Baer paints a chilling picture of how terrorism works on the inside and provides startling evidence of how Washington politics sabotaged the CIA's efforts to root out the world's deadliest terrorists, allowing for the rise of Osama bin Laden and Al Qaeda and the continued entrenchment of Saddam Hussein in Iraq.

The Perfect Kill: 21 Laws for Assassins

Assassination has been dramatized by literature and politicized by infamous murders throughout history, and for Robert Baer, one of the most accomplished agents to ever work for the CIA, it's a source of endless fascination, speculation, and intrigue. Over several decades, Baer served as an operative, from Iraq to New Delhi and beyond; notably, his career was the model for the acclaimed movie Syriana.

Shock Factor: American Snipers in the War on Terror

Retired Marine sniper Jack Coughlin and John Bruning pull back the curtain of secrecy to take an insider's look at the dark and misunderstood world of America's sniper force. Long considered the redheaded stepchildren of the infantry, snipers have been loathed by their fellow warriors, called "ten cent killers" by our media, and portrayed as unbalanced psychopaths by Hollywood.

Under Fire: The Untold Story of the Attack in Benghazi

The explosive inside account of the attack against the U.S. diplomatic and intelligence outposts in Benghazi, Libya.... On the night of September 11, 2012, the American diplomatic mission at Benghazi, Libya, came under ferocious attack by a heavily armed group of Islamic terrorists. The prolonged firefight, and the attack hours later on a nearby CIA outpost, resulted in the deaths of four Americans, including the American ambassador to Libya, Christopher Stevens, the Information Officer, Sean Smith, and two former Navy SEALs.

Brotherhood of Warriors: Behind Enemy Lines with a Commando in One of the World's Most Elite Counterterrorism Units

Beverly Hills native Aaron Cohen was 18 years old when he left behind his privileged American life with the single-minded ambition of joining Israel's top anti-terrorist commando unit. After 15 months of grueling training, Cohen was offered the only post a non-Israeli can hold.

At the Center of the Storm: My Years at the CIA

In the whirlwind of accusations and recriminations that has attended the post 9/11 world, one man's vital testimony has been conspicuously absent. Candid and compelling, At the Center of the Storm is George Tenet's memoir of his life at the CIA - a revelatory look at the inner workings of America's top intelligence agency and its dealings with national leaders at home and abroad.

El Narco: The Bloody Rise of Mexican Drug Cartels

The world has watched stunned at the bloodshed in Mexico. Thirty thousand murdered since 2006; police chiefs shot within hours of taking office; mass graves comparable to those of civil wars; car bombs shattering storefronts; headless corpses heaped in town squares. The United States throws Black Hawk helicopters and drug agents at the problem. But in secret, Washington is confused and divided about what to do. "Who are these mysterious figures tearing Mexico apart?" they wonder.

Thieves of State: Why Corruption Threatens Global Security

A former adviser to the Joint Chiefs of Staff explains how government's oldest problem is its greatest destabilizing force. Thieves of State argues that corruption is not just a nuisance; it is a major source of geopolitical turmoil. Since the late 1990s, corruption has grown such that some governments now resemble criminal gangs, provoking extreme reactions ranging from revolution to militant puritanical religion.

Mossad: The Greatest Missions of the Israeli Secret Service

In Mossad, authors MichaelBar-Zohar and Nissim Mishal take us behind the closed curtain with riveting, eye-opening, boots-on-the-ground accounts of the most dangerous, most crucial missions in the agency's 60-year history.

The Operators: The Wild and Terrifying Inside Story of America's War in Afghanistan

An explosive, behind-the-scenes look into the workings of the U.S. war in Afghanistan that lifts the curtain of the world stage to reveal the devastating greed, waste, and failure surrounding this unwinnable war.

The Mission, the Men, and Me: Lessons from a Former Delta Force Commander

As a commander of Delta Force - the most elite counter terrorist organization in the world - Pete Blaber took part in some of the most dangerous, controversial, and significant military and political events of our time. Now he takes his intimate knowledge of warfare - and the heart, mind, and spirit it takes to win - and moves his focus from the combat zone to civilian life. As the smoke clears from exciting stories about never-before-revealed top-secret missions that were executed all over the globe, listeners will emerge wiser, more capable, and more ready for life's personal victories than they ever thought possible.

U.S. Marshals: Inside America's Most Storied Law Enforcement Agency

Blending history and memoir, retired U.S. Marshal Mike Earp - a descendant of the legendary lawman Wyatt Earp - offers an exclusive and fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the most storied law enforcement agency in America, illuminating its vital role in the nation's development for more than two hundred years. Setting his own experiences within the long history of the U.S. Marshals service, Earp offers a moving and illuminating tribute to the brave marshals who have dedicated their lives to keeping the nation safe.

The Art of Intelligence: Lessons from a Life in the CIA's Clandestine Service

A legendary CIA spy and counterterrorism expert here tells the spellbinding story of his high-risk, action-packed career while illustrating the growing importance of America's intelligence officers and their secret missions. The Art of Intelligence draws from the full arc of Henry Crumpton's espionage and covert action exploits to explain what America's spies do and why their service is more valuable than ever.

Inside the C.I.A.

Based on extensive research and hundreds of interviews, including two with active directors of Central Intelligence, William H. Webster and Robert M. Gates, and with three former D.C.I.s, Inside the C.I.A. is the first in-depth, unbiased account of the Agency's core operations, its abject failures, and its resounding successes.

The Craft We Chose: My Life in the CIA

Many books, fiction and nonfiction alike, purport to probe the inner workings of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency. Many attempt to create spine-tingling suspense or allege that America's civilian spy operation has run amok and been infested with rogues and criminals. But this book is different. In fact it’s a unique straightforward, honest, surprisingly captivating memoir by one of the CIA's most well-known and honored career officers.

The Way of the Knife: The CIA, a Secret Army, and a War at the Ends of the Earth

Pulitzer Prize winner Mark Mazzetti examines secret wars over the past decade, tracking key characters from the intelligence and military communities across the world. Among the characters we meet in The Way of the Knife are a young CIA officer dropped into the tribal areas to learn the hard way how the spy games in Pakistan are played; an Air Force test pilot who fired the first drone missile in the Nevada desert; and a chain-smoking Pentagon official who ran an off-the-books spying operation in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Publisher's Summary

For decades, Fred Burton was a key figure in international counterterrorism and domestic spy craft. As a member of the State Department's Diplomatic Security Service in the mid 1980s, he was on the front lines of America's first campaign against terror. Now, in this hard-hitting memoir, Burton emerges from the shadows to reveal who he is, what he has accomplished, and the threats that lurk unseen except by an experienced, world-wise few. Told in a no-holds-barred, gripping, nuanced style, this behind-the scenes account of one counterterrorism agent's life and career is a riveting listen.

When retired clandestine-service operatives tell their stories, it can often go either way; a dry and barren account or a riveting spook-yarn. "Ghost", by Fred Burton, offers an authentic, well-written and very well-read glimpse into the day to day "police-work" of counter-terrorism. But here it's the real deal, never boring and always honest, real-life. Not since Robert Baer has an operative (and here it's the Diplomatic Security Service), told his story with such emotional and honest conviction. You'll never get the whole story, it's not possible, but Fred Burton does a masterful job of offering a sleeves-rolled-up account of the Ghost life and how it affected him; the lives saved, the lives lost. This book was read with a good flair for drama; voice inflection, dialects from the middle-eastern captured terrorist to the Columbian assassin. This is a must-read Audiobook for anyone from the history buff to the crime-fiction lover. Go for it, you will not be disappointed!

Ghost: Confessions of a Counterterrorism Agent by Fred Burton is a great read about the sacrifices that the brave men and women waging the war on terror make on a daily basis. Burton is an expert in the field of counter-terrorism and reading his book is like taking an advanced class on the subject. Sadly, there still seems to exist the lack of teamwork amongst the agencies that are so needed to work together. Hopefully, with works like this readable book by Burton, people will wake up and realize the need to focus on the issues and not worry about obtaining glory or credit for stopping the threats that exist.

Burton is a hero and we should all thank him for the dedication and commitment he has shown to this country. A four star read. Enjoyable, informative, and scary.

I thoroughly enjoyed this. It's tough to turn it off and go to sleep, and when you do turn it off, you're likely to lay there thinking for a while. It can be very disturbing. I'm very grateful that we have these guys out there.

Burton's account of his own history in the DSS sheds light on some of the evolution and history of the State Department. It also demonstrates who really does the heavy lifting in terms of spycraft and the War on Terrorism. If only Burton could let down his guard and tell the WHOLE story.....

Would you consider the audio edition of Ghost to be better than the print version?

I did not read the print version, however, the accented areas and the pronounciations were something you would not get in a read, so probably.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I am not sure this really applies here, as it is autobiographical.

What three words best describe Tom Weiner’s voice?

Uninflected, montonous, gravelly

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No.

Any additional comments?

The story is what counts here. It is a spellbinding account of real events and people, and dramatic for the times it occurred in and the events portrayed. If you are a fan of cold war and beyond real world workings of counterintelligence this is a must have.

I really enjoyed listening to this book...if you are into military history this book is for you. To me the most interesting part was the investigation of the plan crash of Pakistan&#8217;s leader in the 1980&#8217;s. This plan crash is mentioned briefly in several books I have read, including Charlie Wilson&#8217;s War, but never explained.

The writing is a little wooden and sometimes repetitive. But the book isn't supposed to be entertaining for it's literary style, it's fascinating for the inside perspective delivered personally by the author.

It's as if Fred is sitting in the living room over a bourbon telling you all about it. It's a truly personal "confession".

Yes, I found it a captivating book (having read the print version as well) giving an insightful awakening, if your are of an open mind, to an otherwise oblivious word view many people have towards the evils out there.

What does Tom Weiner bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I am not sure this is applicable however he did have decent voice and I would listen to other books voiced by this reader.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

yes it was

Any additional comments?

If you find you are sleeping too much and need to lose sleep may I recommend this book. This is a rather good, fairly frightening book on the history of our realization and progress combatting terrorism. Written by a counterterrorism specialist, It serves as a wake up call to those that take it for granted what men and women do on a daily basis to keep us safe. What is a basic look at the life of one agent who started out in an under funded under manned agency that was the DSS holds none of the flamboyance of a Fleming novel but more than its fair share of suspense and real life worries. The story of a real agency doing their best to keep Americans out of harms way. The only frustrating aspect of reading this book is the knowledge that there are those that still feel there is no terrorism and seek to ridicule those that fight for us.

I am taking this out of the book because I feel it sums up the point rather nicely: "Maybe this country needs to get hit every few years. We're a complacent people with a short memory. Pearl Harbor. September 11th - they were reality checks for the country. They made us wake up and realize the dangers we really face." - From an unnamed WWII Pearl Harbor Survivor

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